MIDDLETON — A local woman who was taken hostage inside her home on Lake Shore Drive earlier this year thanked the officers who came to her rescue during an awards ceremony Thursday night.

Heather Ducharme expressed her gratitude to the dozens of men and women who helped to free her on Jan. 31, the day a man armed with a semiautomatic rifle showed up at her back door.

Richard Penney, a 36-year-old former Middleton man, is accused of pointing a gun at Ducharme and entering her home. Police say Penney, who is homeless, stole the weapons from his brother on Elaine Road before walking to the residence where he allegedly held her captive.

Penney eventually agreed to free Ducharme and surrender into police custody following intervention from numerous police departments and a state police crisis negotiation team.

“What a surreal thing to happen. This kind of thing didn't happen in Middleton,” Ducharme said, speaking at an awards ceremony Thursday night in Middleton. The event recognized some 50 police officers and emergency personnel who participated in the response.

Ducharme called the law enforcement officers at the scene “heroes,” and singled out negotiator Joseph Ebert, a state police sergeant who helped secure her release, for praise. She presented him with a meritorious conduct medal, and offered a hug to show her appreciation.

Middleton Police Chief Randy Sobel and Sgt. Jason Lamontagne received medals of valor for their conduct. The two men were the only Middleton officers on duty at the time of the standoff, according to Middleton Sgt. Tim Brown, who recited the facts of the incident at Thursday's ceremony. Although they were outgunned, both Sobel and Lamontagne raced to find the armed suspect.

Attorney General Michael Delaney was on hand at the event representing Gov. Maggie Hassan, who expressed her gratitude in a letter. Hassan praised the coordination and cooperation of the Milton, Farmington, New Durham, Wolfeboro and Middleton police departments. She also commended the New Hampshire state police and all other emergency personnel who responded for their “coolness under pressure” and commitment to resolving the crisis peacefully.

“To all of the responding officers and their departments, your towns and the state of New Hampshire are fortunate to be served by you,” Hassan wrote.

Delaney extended his congratulations on the safe resolution of what he called a “very serious incident.” Delaney said he, the governor and the commissioner of the Department of Safety were monitoring the situation while it unfolded.

He was joined at the ceremony by Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi, County Sheriff David DuBois and representatives from the offices of Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H.

“We're here to celebrate your training,” Delaney told the group of officers. “It's training that began for all of you at the police academy. It's training that you have followed through every week and every year of your professional careers. For those with tactical and negotiation skills, it's training that you execute for the very purpose of trying to keep this community safe if something like this happens, and thanks to your training, this ended peacefully.”

Middleton police were initially notified that an armed robbery had occurred on Elaine Road in Middleton, and that the suspect stole various firearms. The weapons were said to include an AK-47 rifle and a large amount of ammunition. The suspect was said to have left the home on foot.

At the time of the call, Lamontagne was already on Lake Shore Drive, and the chief was located on Kings Highway with his police dog. The chief joined Lamontagne at the scene, and they performed a protective sweep of the neighborhood.

Two officers from Farmington were dispatched immediately to the area, as were two officers from Milton and multiple state police troopers. Brown, who recited the circumstances of the event at Thursday's ceremony, also responded from his home.

The timing of the incident coincided with the release of students from school. As a result, school buses were held, and the schools were placed in a “soft lockdown.” The town used a telephone emergency notification system to notify parents about the circumstances.

Police endeavored to close down every intersection around the neighborhood, and a large propane truck in the area was evacuated.

Police then learned that Penney was allegedly holed up in a home on Lake Shore Drive, holding a woman at gunpoint.

An immediate response team was assembled, consisting of Brown, Sobel, the police dog and two officers from Milton. They set up an incident command post on Silver Street, and an operations outpost closer to the victim's residence. They immediately requested a state police helicopter to be ready in the event the suspect fled on foot.

With the stakes heightening, Middleton police put out a statewide call for help.

Officers from as far away as Hillsborough County responded. In nearby New Durham, police called in off-duty personnel to assist. Three deputies from the Strafford County sheriff's department and three Wolfeboro police officers were dispatched to the scene, as were multiple state police troopers and members of the state police SWAT team.

With no indication of how long the standoff would drag on, the Strafford County SWAT team was put on standby in the event relief officers became necessary. The state police bomb squad was also dispatched, equipped with a robot fitted with a video camera.

The town opened a shelter for people being evacuated from the neighborhood or prevented from returning home. Town selectmen were notified of the crisis, and ordinary residents began showing up at the town hall to offer their assistance, Brown said.

Ebert, the state police sergeant, led the crisis negotiation team. He arrived with another sergeant out of State Police Troop E. They established contact with the resident inside the home, and the hostage was released a short time later, Brown said. About 30 minutes after that, Penney came out of the home and he was taken into custody.

Uniformed officers who participated in the response received meritorious conduct awards at Thursday's event. Officers from the Farmington, Milton, New Durham, Wolfeboro and Middleton police departments were recognized, as was the chief of the Middleton Fire Department. Deputies from the Strafford County sheriff's department and state police were also honored.

Three civilian dispatchers from Strafford County's dispatch center also received meritorious service awards. All those who were recognized also received individual messages from Ayotte.

In a letter read publicly Thursday, Shaheen said Middleton's first responders embodied traits of poise, dedication, professionalism and selflessness during the January standoff. She praised their commitment to serving and protecting residents.

“Our public safety officials deserve our gratitude and praise not just tonight, but each and every day in which they honorably serve,” Shaheen wrote.

Through a representative, Shea-Porter said the resolution of the Middleton standoff was made possible by a team of officers that shared the ability to remain calm.

“I am grateful that none of you were harmed during this incident,” she wrote in a letter. “Please accept my deepest appreciation for your professionalism and your dedication to our citizens in our communities.”

Middleton Police Chief Randy Sobel said he couldn't recall a moment in his career when he felt prouder than the response of Jan. 31. In a moment of crisis, law enforcement officers from disparate agencies came together, setting aside personalities for the common cause of preserving life, he said.

“I personally want to thank each and every one of you for the professional and courageous behavior you guys displayed that day,” Sobel said.